There are a few other new pink lilacs now, one is growing in a yard the other way from me, doesn't look like Isabella. I think the James MacFarlane is pink, but they don't always necessarily bloom true. I bought some and planted them on the farm, can't remember the names now except for Sensation. They all died but the yellow one because I couldn't be there to get them off to a good start. The yellow one is pretty pale but pretty anyway. There is an oriental yellow one that is more showy in Klehm's catalog. That other link was a fascinating read. Nothing about propagation, but what a contribution she made. I think I stumbled onto a page of that site before. What a lady! Makes me regret I couldn't have had the foresight to get started in my better years. Wow, too bad it's an Australian site (can't order from them probably) and too bad I don't have more room for them. We have a beautiful public lilac garden a block away, but there are newer, more exotic ones out there now compared to what they put in about 30 years ago. Still, it is a lovely place. That is definitely peachy in the bud form, then it looks like it opens to a more pink shade. Beautiful thing. You are finding some neat sites on the web.

LOL, thanks for the latest Fruit Reviews. Looks like akebia fruit will be more for visual than culinary, interest. :) Aftermidnight, yes, I've seen the pink, brown and white flowered cultivars. They're all great-looking. Most larger nurseries in town have these three types, but I haven't seen any of the variegated-leaf ones (want want want). Thanks for mentioning it. I'm adding the white-flowering one mostly for visual effect mixed in with the chocolate flowered one, but it got me thinking about the possibility of fruit and if they were even good to eat (apparently not very, heh heh). Still, I think they look neat so I'll do a little pollination this year just to see if I can get some. And yes, I'll give them a little taste (possibly very little). Medlars: yes, they're an aquired taste (and texture!), but I sure like them. I've seen some very unflattering descriptions of the texture (see Trees of Seattle 2nd ed., lol), but I like them if they're properly aged. I've planted them at each of my gardens in Seattle and they do make very attractive little trees and the flowers are quite pretty. I wonder what the current owners think of the fruit? Thanks again for the taste tests...keep them coming. Happy gardening, and eating, Grant Here is a link that might be useful: medlars

Posted by mojavebob 9/Sunset 11 (My Page) on Thu, Jul 30, 09 at 23:18 So, I took the time to take Carolyn's advice and perused the selection at Sandhill. Yikes. We're gonna need a bigger boat. Korney's Cross is billed as a very unique high producer. Korney? Bob, it has been pretty disease resistant/tolerant too. Depending on if the latest or an earlier F generation, it usually is a mahagany color. A few years ago I was getting 2 different shapes: Here's a cluster from the original F1 cross: Last year I think it was bigger & wider yet, maybe Eva Purple Ball size. This year I got them in late, almost the end of June, so can't comment yet. Fusion was the source for those at Sandhill I think. Maybe he can comment on it here. I would probably consider it a semi-determinate, about 3.5-5ft tall, and clusters of usually 4 to 6. It was a cross of Black Plum and a determinate red beefsteak. Hope this helps.

Hardy fig or Chicago Hardy.... I heard they're all very similar and are part of the Mt. Etna Family. Apparently there's 100 different Mt. Etna varieties that are all very similar to each other. Moses, to be honest, I'm not sure what I have. I bought a Strawberry Verte and ended up with this. Others have said it looks like a Chicago Hardy... or Mt. Etna type. I totally agree with you guys... sometimes this forum is dead.... but when it gets busy, it can get hard to keep track of a whole conversation.... Very hard if you haven't been on here for a few days and there's 50 messages to go through lol.